What you should consider when building a smart home

There was a time when ‘future-proofing’ a home was simply a case of choosing fixtures, fittings and a colour palette that would stand the test of time, and still be attractive to you and potential buyers in five or 10 years.

It’s a very different landscape in 2018, with technology advancing almost daily, and homes now capable of being so much more than just places to live, eat and sleep.

A growing number of homes are now set up as ‘smart homes’, with features that would have been almost inconceivable a decade ago.

Here’s what having a ‘smart home’ means today.

It’s all connected

Much of the new technology now available for homes is centred around devices that can all talk to each other, in order to make your life easier.

That could mean lighting that turns on and off automatically depending on if someone’s in the room, security systems and cameras that are accessible and able to be monitored on your smartphone, and power-saving features that can be turned on and off in an app on your tablet or phone.

Internet for the job

One of the biggest factors in determining how to create an effective ‘smart home’ is to have internet that is capable of handling all the connected devices that will populate it.

With more and more Australian employers championing flexible work conditions, fast internet is a deal breaker. Picture: Getty

Internet speeds that were fast enough for your needs five years ago may no longer cut it, which is why access to fast broadband, such as via the nbn™ broadband access network is important if you want to connect up your home.

Builders Coach founder Kurt Hegetschweiler says the nbn access network and adequate wiring should be among your first considerations when building.

“Each new smart device that comes onto the market needs to be connected to a network,” he says.

“Ideally you want to be on services over the nbn™ access network and also have the correct devices and equipment to support it.”

Naomi Read, General Manager, Demand Deployment at nbn , says that with Australian homes expected to have an average of 30 digital devices connected within the next couple of years, access to high-speed internet is essential.

“Home automation is increasingly popular, especially when it comes to smart energy and security, and high-tech appliances and systems are relying on a high-speed, reliable internet connection,” Read says.

Start with the basics

Hegetschweiler says a ‘smart home’ doesn’t have to be connected up with every possible feature in every single room, but it can be overwhelming with all the options out there.

If you’re not sure where to start, stick with features that will serve you best over a longer period, and remain important in years to come.

“It’s a crowded market and there are a few fads out there, but there are some very useful tools that can save you a lot of time and money,” he says.

“Focus on your core needs of energy, security and lighting first.

“The cost of adding eco-friendly building options may seem expensive up-front, but they will save you money in the long run.”

Plan ahead

Connecting an established home with smart features can present challenges and considerable expense, so Hegetschweiler says doing it at the building planning stage can save you headaches and money.

Planning early allows you to better connect and wire all your devices and utilities to a central “hub” that can control everything from your lighting, to your security and sound systems.

“It will be a lot harder (to install once the home is already built),” he says.

“For example, if you want surround sound throughout the whole house, it’s really important that you make that call early on (in the building planning process).”

“For most people, they start with the core features like security and heating and lighting, and then expand out from there. They’ve got to work out what they most need.”

Hegetschweiler says that planning out your smart features also avoids you ending up with a mish-mash of different systems and brands that don’t integrate well together.

“Compatibility is another issue. There are different systems, and if they’ve got a patchwork of different things, it’s going to become a nightmare,” he says.

What will it cost?

Like any home feature, you can spend as little or as much as you want, when it comes to future-proofing your home with ‘smart’ additions.

Lights with sensors that will switch off when you exit a room won’t cost much at all, while a full-blown automated setup for your entire home could cost tens of thousands.

“From the fully integrated (Clipsal) C-Bus system to the latest plug-and-go AR (augmented reality) tech, there are a range of options at every price point,” Hegetschweiler says.

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